By Ben Sutherland BBC Sport Online

For many years now, the French league has been a home from home for African footballers.

More Africans play in Le Championnat than anywhere else outside the continent - highlighted by the fact that last year's league runners-up Lens had four of Senegal's World Cup squad in their side.

That was without mentioning Nigeria's John Utaka, Mali's Adama Coulibaly, and Guinea's Daouda Jabi - all on the books of the Northern France club.

Last year they played their part in a hugely dramatic end to the season, with the top two playing each other for the title on the last day - and Lyon's 3-1 win left Lens hero El Hadji Diouf "the most miserable person in the world."

Diouf has since moved to English side Liverpool, and will be joined there later in the season by compatriot Salif Diao, contracted to Sedan until December.

But despite the switch of the Championnat's top scorer, French clubs remain packed with the cream of Africa's talent.

Most of Senegal's World Cup heroes still remain there, with Tony Sylva at Monaco, Henri Camara at Sedan and Khalilou Fadiga at Auxerre.

Meanwhile this is a big year for the player once tipped to be the next George Weah - Monaco's Shabani Nonda.

Nonda had a disappointing season last time around, with his club nearly being relegated.